Kinder dismisses suggestion that he not run for governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is dismissing a suggestion from a fellow Republican that he not run for governor.

In a statement e-mailed to Heartland News, the Kinder campaign says "The vast majority of grassroots supporters, donors and other elected officials have seen this for what it is; the Democrats trying to distract from the third worst job loss rate in the country, a Nixon record of zero accomplishment, and an electorate fed up with politics as usual."

Rep. Kevin Elmer called on Kinder to forgo his expected bid for governor because of acknowledgements that Kinder repeatedly visited a strip club in the mid-1990s. Elmer, of Nixa, distributed a public statement Tuesday saying Kinder's "irresponsible decisions in his personal life have impugned his ability to lead publicly from a principled position."

The statement says Kinder "will be in touch with Rep. Elmer and will extend him the courtesy of a conversation before commenting on the letter even though Rep. Elmer didn't extend that courtesy to the Lt. Gov.

The campaign plans to continue its focus on the issues Missourians care about like growing jobs and improving the economy."

Kinder, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, acknowledged last week that he visited an Illinois strip club about 10 times, when he was a state senator about 17 years ago. Kinder said he now considers that a poor decision.

Although he has not officially announced his candidacy, Kinder has been gearing up to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2012.

The Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort and a Regional Response Coordination Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky for the August 21st solar eclipse.

The Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) will activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort and a Regional Response Coordination Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky for the August 21st solar eclipse.